Photocatalytic Degradation of Crystal Violet Using SnO2/ZnO Nanocomposite Synthesized by Facile Sol-Gel Method

• Published in: Journal of cluster science Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 597 - 606
• Main Authors: Shabna, S., Shaji, J. Eugin, Dhas, S. Sahaya Jude, Suresh, S., Aravind, Arun, Thomas, Susmi Anna, Vinita, V. Sherlin, Samuel, J., Biju, C. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-02-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Carcinogens; Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Crystal dislocations; Crystallites; Dislocation density; Dyes; Efficiency; Environmental impact; Heterojunctions; Inorganic Chemistry; Light; Metal oxides; Nanochemistry; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Original Paper; Oxidation; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Photodegradation; Photoelectrons; Physical Chemistry; Pollutants; Pore size distribution; Scanning electron microscopy; Sol-gel processes; Stability analysis; Surface charge; Thin films; Tin dioxide; Water pollution; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Zeta potential; Zinc oxide; Photocatalytic degradation; Crystal Violet; ZnO; Sol–gel; SnO
• ISSN: 1040-7278; 1572-8862
• DOI: 10.1007/s10876-023-02500-0

Offering remedial measures to the catastrophic problem of pollution has become the clarion call such that photocatalytic degradation could be an asset for this cause. In this study, pure SnO
2
, ZnO and SnO
2
/ZnO nanocomposites were prepared by facile sol-gel method. The structural properties of the samples were investigated by XRD analysis. In order to determine the stability and credibility of the samples, crystallite size, strain and dislocation density were determined by advocating the Williamson–Hall (W–H) method. FE-SEM analysis reveals a sphere-like morphology for the samples. HR-TEM analysis evidenced the formation of SnO
2
/ZnO heterojunction nanocomposite. The surface area and pore size distribution of the samples were obtained from N
2
adsorption-desorption analysis. Chemical states of elements were obtained by X-ray-photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The Raman study further established the formation of SnO
2
/ZnO nanocomposite. The optical band gaps of the samples were estimated by the Tauc relation as 3.51 eV for SnO
2
and 3.08 eV for ZnO and SnO
2
/ZnO nanocomposites. From the PL spectra, a weakening of peak intensity is observed for the composite sample. The surface charge of the prepared nanoparticles was investigated by Zeta potential measurements. SnO
2
/ZnO photocatalyst displayed 90 % degradation efficiency towards crystal violet effluent while SnO
2
and ZnO displayed 47 % and 65 % degradation efficiencies, respectively. This character was rationalized in terms of better charge separation and suppression of charge recombination in the SnO
2
/ZnO photocatalyst such that it can be utilized as a prospective material to minimize water pollution in a cost-economical way.